Social "I Love You, Dad, I Miss You. I Love You!"…Letter from the Daughter of a Firefighter Who Died in the Line of Duty

"Dad, I know you loved me the most. Let's definitely meet again later. By then, I'll probably be grown up."

A young daughter's letter promising to reunite with her father adds to the sorrow. The letter was placed at the funeral altar of late Fire Lieutenant Kim Jin-seok, who died in the line of duty while conducting firefighting operations at a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. The daughter, who is preparing to enter elementary school next year, wrote her final farewell to her father alongside a drawing of a fire engine she had drawn herself.

Democratic Party Rep. Song Young-gil posted news of visiting Fire Lieutenant Kim's funeral altar on his social media account on the evening of the 17th, along with his daughter's letter. The letter begins with the words "To Dad, whom I miss."

"Let's definitely meet again later"…A young daughter's letter to her father

The daughter wrote in her letter, "Dad passed away yesterday, but I miss you so much even now. We're at the funeral hall right now." She continued, "I know. You loved me the most," and wrote, "Dear Dad, whom I miss, let's definitely meet again later. By then, I'll probably be grown up." At the end, she left the words, "I love you. Dad, whom I miss. I love you!"

The child drew two fire engines in crayon on the paper, then carefully wrote her message to her father in deliberate handwriting. Below the letter, she also wrote the date and her name. In her words about meeting her father again when she will have grown up, there is longing and love for her father.

Rep. Song expressed his sadness, saying, "How did he have to leave behind his beloved wife and daughter, at such a young age, born in 1981."

Fire Lieutenant Kim was reportedly preparing to move to a new home with his family recently. His daughter was also preparing to enter elementary school next year. Just as the family was about to embark on a new chapter together, the father was suddenly taken away.

President Lee Jae-myung also visited the funeral altar at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital on the afternoon of the 17th to pay his respects. The President asked Kim's wife about her daughter's age, and after hearing that she was seven years old, he remained silent for a moment. Meeting the deceased's father outside the funeral altar, the President said, "Please allow me to ask that your granddaughter grows up well."

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, who also visited the funeral altar that day, reportedly did not hide her sadness when the deceased's father-in-law told her that his granddaughter had received her school entrance notice for next year.

Dispatched 20 minutes before end of shift…A firefighter who stayed at his post until the end

Fire Lieutenant Kim was deployed as the first responder to a factory fire that occurred at a facility in Naedong, Ojeong-gu, Bucheon on the morning of the 16th at 8:38 a.m., and conducted firefighting operations. At the time, there were approximately 20 minutes remaining until the end of his 24-hour shift rotation. However, when the fire alarm was received, he responded to the scene, suffered serious injuries during the firefighting operations, was transported to the hospital, but ultimately passed away.

The deceased, an 11-year veteran firefighter, headed to the fire scene to protect citizens' lives and safety. With news that he died in the line of duty while performing his duties before the end of his shift, mourning continues from fellow firefighters and citizens.

The fire service authorities posthumously promoted the deceased from Fire Lieutenant to Fire Captain by one rank in recognition of his sacrifice, and also posthumously awarded him the Order of Industrial Service Merit. Arrangements for burial at the National Cemetery will also be supported.

The funeral of the deceased will be held as a state funeral according to the wishes of his family. The funeral service is scheduled to be held with full honors on the morning of the 19th at Bucheon Indoor Gymnasium at 10 a.m.

The young daughter's letter to her father contains the everyday life of a family that dreamed of sharing a future together. For fellow firefighters and citizens, mourning continues for the final journey of the firefighter who headed to the scene to protect that daily life.